hgap vocab

map

two-dimensional (flat) representation of a geographical area.

cartographer

a person who makes maps

data aggregation

the process of collecting and organizing large amounts of information

spatial perspective

a geographic perspective that seeks to identify and explain the uses of space

spatial patterns

the placement or arrangement of objects on Earth’s surface + space between

clustered

clumped together

dispersed

spread out in some organized fashion

random

either clustered or dispersed, thus lacking any organization

time-distance decay

the idea that near things are more related than distant things, and interaction between two places decreases the farther apart they are

map symbols

graphic elements that help organize the information in a map, such as dots, stars, arrows, squares, and dotted lines

legend

a key to the meaning of the symbols and colors on a map

compass rose

showing the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west) and the map’s orientation

absolute direction

corresponds to the direction on a compass: north, south, east, west, and combinations such as northeast and southwest

relative direction

can be described as position, such as in front of or behind, to the left or to the right

map scale

the distance on a map in relation to distance in actual space

absolute distance

the distance that can be measured with a standard unit of length, such as a foot, yard, mile, or kilometer

relative distance

a measurement of the level of social, cultural, or economic similarity between places despite their absolute distance from each other

elevation

distance above sea level

isoline

(derived from Greek) on a map, a line that connects or links different places that share a common or equal value, such as elevation

topographic maps

a graphic representation of the three-dimensional configuration of Earth’s surface

reference maps

a map that shows geographic locations on Earth’s surface, such as the locations of cities or oceans

thematic maps

a map that emphasizes the spatial patterns of geographic statistics or attributes, and sometimes the relationships between them

choropleth maps

shows data aggregated for a specific geographic area, often using different colors to represent different values

cartogram

a map that distorts the geographic shape of an area in order to show the size of a specific variable (more variable = larger)

proportional/graduated circle maps

a map that uses symbols (such as circles or dots) of different sizes to represent numerical values

dot density/distribution maps

a map that uses dots to represent object(s) or count(s)

map projection

a method for representing the surface of Earth or a celestial sphere on a plane (2D) surface (all have distortion)

mercator projection

the lines connecting points on the map represent the true compass direction; however, landmasses become more distorted the farther away they are from the equator

gall-peters projection

shows all landmasses with their true areas but distorts their shapes

polar projection

looks down at Earth from the perspective of one of the poles (North Pole or South Pole)

goode homolosine projection

avoids shape distortion and the restrictions of a rectangular map by creating “interruptions” in the map’s continuity (typically oceans) in each section (like an orange peel on a flat surface)

robinson projection

attempts to create the most visually appealing representation of Earth by keeping all types of distortion relatively low over most of the map

distortion (SADD)

size, area, distance, direction

census

an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details about individuals, such as age, gender, and race

fieldwork

learning and doing research involving firsthand experience, which takes place outside the classroom setting

absolute location

a precise position on Earth’s surface

latitude

the (invisible) horizontal lines circling Earth parallel to the equator and is the degree of distance north or south from the equator

equator

circle of latitude that divides Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, which is at 0 degrees, as far as the poles, which are at 90 degrees

longitude

the (invisible) vertical lines on Earth’s surface that mark imaginary circles connecting the North Pole with the South Pole

prime meridian

the zero-degree longitude line that runs through Greenwich, England;(Greenwich Meridian)

global positioning system (GPS)

a system of 24 satellites that orbit Earth twice daily and transmit radio signals Earthward; the basis for many map-based apps that provide directions on how to get from one place to another

geographical information system

a software application for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface; allows the rapid manipulation of geospatial data for problem-solving and research

remote sensing

the scanning of Earth by satellite or high-flying aircraft in order to obtain information about it

aerial photography

remote-sensing photography that produces fine-grained, high-resolution, highly detailed images

satellite imagery

images of Earth’s surface gathered from sensors mounted on orbiting satellites; these sensors record in both the visible and non-visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, allowing humans to view patterns and processes that are both visible and invisible to the naked eye